Hello everyone!

Well, surgery was Monday and I came home today. My surgeon was amazed at how diseased this section of colon was. It was attaching itself to my uterus and was so thickened he said it looked like a tumor. He was also amazed that I wasn't sicker than I was after seeing what was forming inside.

I had ureter stents placed before the surgery....more of a visual aide for him so that they weren't damaged. Too, the surgery ended up taking 4 hours instead of the anticipated 2 1/2.

I was on liquids until yesterday. Finally allowed to have some pudding and creamed soup (man, did that taste good!). Will stay on the creamed stuff until Monday and slowly introduce soft foods. No fiber for a while, though.

As for pain, they inserted 2 catheters in my mid back to deliver numbing medicine to the nerves in the abdominal area. Those and the PCA were disconnected on Thursday. I started oral meds Thursday and am only taking them as needed. I think I had a total of 3 yesterday and 2 so far today.

No gas (but lots of bowel sounds) until yesterday. FINALLY started moving my bowels at 3 AM this morning and have been going constantly (every 2 hours or so). At first, it was an explosion of gas and small, soft pieces of feces. Just went a little while ago and it is starting to form solid pieces.

I am so glad this is behind me....especially after hearing how really ugly my colon was. I had no idea even though I had regular colonoscopies. It was the outside of the colon that had all of the disease...the inside only ever showed diverticular disease.

To those of you facing a re-section, it is so normal to be scared silly! Just focus on the positive and know that, after surgery, all of the worry about another abcess or hospital stay will be over!

Best wishes,
Linda

Linda,

Glad to hear that you are home. It sounds like you are doing well. Were they able to do it laprascopic assisted?

After my surgery, it seemed like I had a BM everytime I ate a bite. That eventually regulated itself.

Don't be afraid to take the pain meds. There is no reason to be try to do without and to be in pain.

Keep us posted on how you are doing.

Maggie

Hi Maggie.....

Yes, the surgeon was able to do it laparoscopically.

I'm still really sore and, you're right, should probably be taking the pain meds more often than I am. I guess I'm just so happy to be home, I don't want to spend all my time resting (the pills make me tired).

I'm not having as many bm's today as yesterday. Seemed like I was on the pot every hour. Today, it's only been a couple of times. No formed stool...still lots of gas.

Thanks for writing....and will keep you posted as it goes.

Linda

Wow, you sound really good. That is wonderful! I had my resection almost 8 weeks ago. I went through a lot of changes with bowel movements, each stage lasting about 5-7 days: first diarrhea, then small and frequent movements, then constipation, before getting to what I considered normal. I eat yogurt twice a day and take a probiotic (Pearls) once a day, to help rebuild good bacteria and it seemed to help with gas, too.
I hope things continue to go well through your recovery.
Izzy

Linda---I've been waiting to hear how you did with your surgery. Thought about you lots last week. I have my surgery scheduled for October 25. I'm also going to check with a Urologist to see if she might do a bladder tuck (or whatever it's called) at the same time as my colon surgery. My surgeon says they do that sometimes. I have an appt. with the Urologist in a couple of weeks. Not sure whether that's what I need or not---I'm always running to the bathroom with bladder contractions---especially if I get a chill (no wonder I hate cold weather). I've been taken Detrol LA for the past two months but it doesn't seem to really help. Anyway----glad you are home and the outcome was successful.